Blocking could come into play

Controversial tactic could be part of action in NASCAR race Sunday

Associated Press

Published 11:34 pm, Saturday, April 6, 2013

Photo: Steve Sheppard

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Driver Tony Stewart talks with a crew member in the garage after practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Saturday, April 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Steve Sheppard) less

Driver Tony Stewart talks with a crew member in the garage after practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Saturday, April 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Steve ... more

Photo: Steve Sheppard

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Driver Tony Stewart talks with a crew member in the garage after practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Saturday, April 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Steve Sheppard) less

Driver Tony Stewart talks with a crew member in the garage after practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Saturday, April 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Steve ... more

Photo: Steve Sheppard

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Driver Tony Stewart talks with a crew member in the garage after practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va. Saturday April 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Steve Sheppard) less

Driver Tony Stewart talks with a crew member in the garage after practice for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va. Saturday April 6, 2013. (AP Photo/Steve ... more

Tony Stewart says never. Joey Logano says late in the race. Jimmie Johnson says to protect a victory in the final laps, except, perhaps, if Stewart is behind him because of the potential consequences.

Theories on blocking and when it is acceptable vary widely in the NASCAR garage.

The topic has become a hot one since the last race two weeks ago in California, where an infuriated Stewart confronted Logano's crew and accused the young driver of blocking him late in the race.

At Martinsville, where the Sprint Cup Series will race 500 laps on Sunday, cars typically swing wide heading into the turns at each end of the track, then hug the inside curb. A blocking maneuver by a leader might cut down that wide swing, forcing a challenger to drive higher up in the turn away from the curb.

Trucks: Johnny Sauter passed Jeb Burton for the lead on a restart with 17 laps to go and won the NASCAR truck race at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday.

IndyCar: Defending series champion Ryan Hunter-Reayhas won the pole at Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Ala. Will Power qualified second.